Southern California & Southwest Arizona
October 5-12, 2013
Hunting for California Gnatcatcher?
Looking for Yellow-footed Gull?
Yearning to see a White-headed Woodpecker?
Join us on a week-long adventure as we start out exploring the Pacifc coastline, journey up into the Laguna and San Jacinto Mountains, descend below sea level to the Salton Sea sink, and end up birding in the verdant Lower Colorado River Valley and the Sonoran Desert.
Itinerary and TargetsDAY 1 - Saturday
Plan to arrive at San Diego International Airport by 3:30 p.m. Once we pick everyone up, we'll make a short trip over to Ocean Beach and the San Diego River, where we'll tally dozens of species among the thousands of shorebirds (including SNOWY PLOVER), waders, gulls, terns, and waterfowl.
Overnight San Diego
DAY 2 - Sunday - San Diego County
The birding begins! Starting in beautiful La Jolla Cove we'll look for offshore shearwaters, rock-loving shorebirds, BRANDT'S CORMORANTS, HEERMANN'S and WESTERN GULLS, and basking sea lions. At San Elijo Lagoon we'll track down numerous birds like BUSHTIT and the Californias: CALIFORNIA GNATCATCHER, CALIFORNIA THRASHER, and CALIFORNIA TOWHEE. Moving south to Imperial Beach, we'll search for YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, REDDISH EGRET, CLAPPER RAIL, and ELEGANT TERN.
Overnight San Diego
DAY 3 - Monday - Laguna Mountains
At Cuyamaca Rancho State Park we'll hike along tree-lined streams and valleys on the lookout for CALIFORNIA QUAIL, ACORN and NUTTALL'S WOODPECKERS, WRENTIT, OAK TITMOUSE, and PYGMY NUTHATCH. Close to the mountaintop retreat of Julian we'll look for SPOTTED OWL, more woodpeckers, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, and finches. From there we'll head farther north up to the San Jacinto Mountains and Idyllwild, where we'll try to add PINYON and STELLER'S JAYS, and BAND-TAILED PIGEON to our growing list.
Overnight Idyllwild
DAY 4 - Tuesday - San Jacinto Mountains
Along the winding road to the peak of Black Mountain (elevation 7772') we'll search for MOUNTAIN QUAIL, WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, and CASSIN'S FINCH. Descending back down the mountain past Lake Hemet, we'll check the lake and surrounding area for BALD EAGLE, waterfowl, woodpeckers, TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD, and migrants like TOWNSEND'S and HERMIT WARBLERS. On the way to Brawley we stop at Salton City and other spots along the Salton Sea shoreline for gulls, terns, waders, and shorebirds.
Overnight Brawley
DAY 5 - Wednesday - Salton Sea and the Imperial Valley
We could easily tally 100+ species today as we explore this birding mecca below sea level. Expected are YELLOW-FOOTED and CALIFORNIA GULLS, AMERICAN BLACK SKIMMER, SNOWY PLOVER, BLACK and GULL-BILLED TERNS, and BURROWING OWL, and rarities this time of year have included BLUE-FOOTED BOOBY, CURLEW SANDPIPER, and RUFF. As the sun is setting we'll drive over the majestic Imperial Sand Dunes to Yuma.
Overnight Yuma
DAY 6 - Thursday - Sonoran Desert and Colorado River Valley
At Kofa NWR, among the saguaros, palo verde trees, and jojoba bushes we'll search for GAMBEL'S QUAIL, GILDED FLICKER, BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER, PHAINOPEPLA, CURVE-BILLED THRASHER, and BLACK-THROATED SPARROW. Then it's off to the Colorado River Valley to explore cottonwood groves, marshes, and backwaters formed by the first dam built along the river. With a bit of luck we'll hear BLACK and CLAPPER RAILS and LEAST BITTERN, and spot a late "SOUTHWESTERN" WILLOW FLYCATCHER among the many migrant tanagers, grosbeaks, and warblers. We'll eat a bit earlier this evening and then head out to explore the desert sand dunes after dark, looking for sidewinders, scorpions, and geckos, and glowing scorpions under a UV light.
Overnight Yuma
DAY 7 - Friday - Colorado River and Laguna Mountains
At the Yuma West Wetlands we'll hunt for CRISSAL THRASHER, LADDER-BACKED and GILA WOODPECKERS, RUFOUS and BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS, and southbound migrants. Then we head west towards San Diego, stopping at Fig Lagoon for terns, gulls, and newly-arrived waterfowl. At the eastern edge of the Laguna Mountains we'll stop in Jacumba to look for TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD, CALIFORNIA THRASHER, and HARRIS'S HAWK. Farther up we'll stop at Live Oak Springs and Kitchen Creek to search for LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH. Our final stop will be the chaparrall hillsides at Buckman Springs to look for lingering GRAY VIREO and WRENTIT.
Overnight San Diego
DAY 8 - Saturday
We'll say goodbye to new friends and arrive at the San Diego International Airport by 8:00 a.m.
The cost of the trip is $1940.00 per person from San Diego, California. This cost is
based on double occupancy and includes 7 nights of accommodation, transportation, guiding services, and park fees. The minimum number of participants is 3 and the maximum is 6. There is a $385 single supplement.
Not included in the cost is your transportation to and from San Diego, meals, and any costs resulting from illness, injury, or events beyond our control.
To reserve a spot on this tour, please e-mail us at henrydetwiler@earthlink.net or call 928-782-1128 for a registration packet. A deposit of $200 per person holds your place on the trip. Full payment is due 90 days prior to our trip (Aug 5, 2013).
Please read the following information about our Southern California birding tour, and feel free to e-mail or call if you have any questions. I'll have a spotting scope and various field guides. Don't forget your binoculars!
CANCELLATION POLICY
Please let us know as soon as possible if you must cancel. If we can fill your vacancy with someone on the waiting list we will refund all monies except for your deposit. If you have to cancel 90-30 days before the trip and we can not find a replacement, we will refund 50% of the trip price. If you must cancel less than 30 days prior to the trip and we can't find a replacement, no refund will be made.
If we have fewer than 3 participants paid in full 90 days prior to our trip, we will refund 100% of your money. We recommend you purchase trip cancellation insurance to cover your investment in this trip, which may include non-refundable airline tickets.
TRIP PACE
This will be a moderately-paced trip. Sunrise will be at 6:45 a.m. and sunset at 6:30 p.m., and we'll be out from breakfast to dinner every day. We'll spend at least one evening looking for night creatures like owls, desert reptiles, and insects; this is, of course, optional. Walks will be fairly short, with only one moderate hike approaching a mile in distance.
WEATHER AND CLOTHING
Temperatures may vary between 60-100 degrees Fahrenheit, with most days being very pleasant. Along the coast it may be cool and windy, and in the mountains we may have cool mornings. Around the Salton Sea and in Arizona the afternoons are sometimes still hot this time of year, but nothing like July! Rain is not expected. Sunglasses, sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and a jacket are all recommeded.
LODGING AND MEALS
Lodging will be at moderately-priced motels, such as Best Westerns, where available. Breakfast will be included at most of the lodging. When that is not an option, we'll buy breakfast items the night before. Lunches will be at sandwich shops like Subway, or we'll bring along a picnic lunch. There will be a cooler in the vehicle for drinks. Dinners will be at moderately-priced restaurants in the vicinity of our lodging.
SMOKING
Thank you for not smoking in the vehicle, in our lodging (all rooms are non-smoking), or in the vicinity of the group.
Please e-mail me at henrydetwiler@earthlink.net or call 928-782-1128 for a reservation packet, or if you have questions about this trip.
Good Birding!
 White-headed Woodpecker |
 Black Skimmer |
